European Union Bill — Decline Second Reading — 7 Dec 2010 at 21:41

The majority of MPs voted to support the European Union Bill, a key provision of which is a guarantee of a referendum prior to any future transfer of powers from the UK to the EU.

The text of the motion rejected during the vote was:

this House

"declines to give a second reading to the European Union Bill on the grounds that, while the principle of referendums on significant constitutional and monetary changes is appropriate, the Bill is a flawed measure which would confuse the important issues at stake and make vital constitutional issues justiciable by the courts rather than resolved under the sovereignty of Parliament."

The key areas of the European Union Act, according to Parliament's website:

Provides for a referendum throughout the United Kingdom on any proposed EU treaty or Treaty change which would transfer powers from the UK to the EU

Ensures that an Act of Parliament would have to be passed before a ‘ratchet clause’ or a passerelle (bridging clause) in the European Union Treaty could be used. In addition, if the passerelle involved a transfer of power or competence from the UK to the EU, this would also be subject to a referendum before the Government could agree to its use

Enables the UK to ratify a Protocol to allow additional European Parliament seats for the UK and 11 other Member States during the current European Parliament term, and to legislate for the extra UK seat

Provides for a clause that affirms that EU law takes effect in the UK only because Parliament wills that it should. This confirms the principle that Parliament is sovereign.

Those voting "aye" in this division were voting against the provisions in the European Union Act.

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